Sterling Nugget IPA
Willimantic Brewing Co.

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From:
Willimantic Brewing Co.
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 7.67%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
13
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 26, 2013
Added:
Nov 15, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rhoadsrage:
Photo of rhoadsrage
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(Served in an Imperial nonic)
Thanks to Goodbyeohio for this brew
A- This beer has a clear golden copper color with a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles. There is a thick fluffy light tan head that last and last sticking to the glass after each sip.

S- The smell of bright green hops come through even during the pour. The hops are green grassy hops with a slight floral note.

T- The big green taste of hops is smooth and a bit dark. There is a nice bite of smooth hop bitterness that is very unique. In the background there is a nice toasted malt flavor. The finish has a green hop and light malt sweetness that linger after the sip.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a slightly creamy texture.

D- This beer has a great hops flavor that is not citrus and not Noble hops. The malt flavor offers some nice support to the hops and it is nice to see them linger with the hops bitterness. Great session beer and even a growler goes pretty quickly. It is nice to seem other hop flavors beside the huge orange, and grapefruit notes.
Sep 10, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by tjdrewry from Connecticut

Jul 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by shigg85 from Japan

Jun 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 18, 2013
Photo of datalager
Reviewed by datalager from Connecticut

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on tap at Willibrew yesterday. Golden nugget is an above average cascade-based IPA on all fronts. Deep amber-colored, with a citrus and pine aroma that is no stranger to west coast IPA lovers. The flavor is strong with maltiness and grapefruit. Feel is a touch brisk upfront, smooth in swallow, dry in finish. I will order this anytime I see it on the menu.
Apr 30, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Jan 30, 2012
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served on-tap in a rocks glass as part of my beer flight at Willimantic Brewing Co.

A: Poured a hazy, burnt orange and amber yellow color with a thin head of ivory foam. A lot of cloudiness to this unfiltered ale.

S: Smells sweet and citrusy, with bits of coriander and wet, spicy hop leaves.

T: Flavor is a muted toffee malt and buttered biscuit taste at first. This gives way to some lusher, ripened citrus and tropical fruits near mid palate before getting oily and washing down with a moderate hop bitterness.

M: Medium-full bodied with a slightly chewy, oily and bitter feel to it.

D: Loads of nice hop smells and flavors in this 6-addition IPA. The 6.3% ABV is modest and it is remarkably smooth for an unfiltered ale. Love to see a cask of this sometime.
Mar 21, 2010
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

3.99/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at the brewpub into a shaker pint.

A: Fully hazed, bright orange body filled to the absolute brim - so no head. I like the obvious unfiltered-ness, but I like head more. This pour is disappointing.

S: Bitter grapefruit hops, with a bit of spice and caramel malt. I'd probably get more if it were in a different glass.

T: Good balance of aggressively bitter hops and body-boosting caramel malt. The hops are definitely dominant, with citrus, herbal, and spicy notes all building to a hugely bitter finish. Quite nice.

M: Medium body with the perfect amount of smooth, yet lively, carbonation. Truly excellent.

D: For being so bitter, this one's disappearing in a hurry.

Notes: I preferred the Pushing the Evelope IPA, but not by much. Another tasty IPA from Willibrew.

Cheers!
Mar 14, 2010
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
At the brewpub yesterday (11MAR10)... Finished my Pale Bock and lunch (Buffalo Chicken Wrap) and opted for their IPA for round 2. The Glacier IPA had kicked, so it was the Sterling-Nugget for me next.

My shaker pint was filled with a cloudy, muted golden bier. Could not see any carbo, and as for the head, it was white and thinning rapidly, though nice lacing was left in the glass. Pithy hops hit the nostrils, fairly robust and inviting. Mouthfeel? Medium for the body aspect, and fairly smooth, too, with only a touch of prickle.

A bit of toasty malt sweetness hits the palate first. Soon after it's lots of rind and resins, a puckery combo. The lupulins are slathered everywhere, with even a subtle suggestion of mint thrown in. Solid, across the board. Prosit!

3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

1233
Mar 12, 2010
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.85/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed on 8/21/09. On tap at the brewpub. Pours a super cloudy light brown with a thick off-white head. Aroma is super citrusy with lots of orange peel. Flavor is citrusy initially with some caramel malt and toffee. Very delicious IPA and my favorite beer of the day at Willimantic.
Dec 18, 2009
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

4.62/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hazed, yet glowing body of orange. Thin beads of small CO2 bubbles can be seen rising slowly. Ivory white cap of froth leaves a nice looking pattern of lace as I drink. Aroma is outstanding. All the resiny, oily, greasy hop attributes that hop heads could smell all day. It's got grass, MaryJane, a little smoke, pink grapefruit pulp... The list goes on. This IPA has got the kind of taste that really excites me. Resinous. Bitter rind-like properties. Pungent. Lingering bitterness. Slightly fruity with fruits like apricots and nectarines coming to mind. The malts are secondary but present. Seem to be mostly toffeeish in nature with a little caramel/crystal sweetness as well. Body checks in at medium. Carbonation is appropriately held in check. Alcohol is noted, but not overly so. Plain and simple, this one is very good. Right up my alley. The bitterness really lingers and it is a nice bitterness.
Oct 30, 2005
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
German-style refillable growler filled at the brewpub.

First pint glass pours with a creamy 1" light beige head, which lasted great and laced with lots of sticky froth. Somewhat cloudy orangey amber brew, with pine hops dominating the nose. Taste starts with an adequate malt base, quickly heading towards where it belongs, with bitter hops all over the place. Leaves the lips sticky with resin, and the burps come quick and hoppy as well. Reminds me of Laconner dry-hop. Mouthfeel is smooth and easy, the sharp bitterness remaining totally approachable, and drinkability is superb as well. Gotta check this one out.
Oct 10, 2005
Photo of MuddyFeet
Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

4.57/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Zesty, west-coast style IPA.

Unfiltered and murky. Poured a toasted orange with a nice head on top. Thing strongy lace all down the inside of my glass.

Nice mossy and grassy aromas flwoing up from the head.

The flavor is a refreshing bath of hops that is nicely balanced with the malts. Bits of cracker and caramel flavors peak through. Also, hints of citrus and peaches. Kind of a woody feel to the flavor.

Medium mouthfeel but just a tad on the thin side. The hops make up for it by really spreading my cheeks out in the flavor.

Oh, so drinkable. I had to pause and start to pace myself.

Enjoyed at the brewpub on 10/8/05. Just tapped that day.
Oct 09, 2005
Sterling Nugget IPA from Willimantic Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 13 ratings